Ocean Boulevard runs the length of the beach and is the main artery of Hampton Beach resort life. The boardwalk alongside it is lined with arcades, souvenir shops, fried dough stands, ice cream parlours, and seafood shacks — the full repertoire of the old-fashioned American beach resort. It is unashamedly commercial and cheerful about it.
The main drag runs for about a mile, with the Casino Ballroom near the middle and the beach on one side and the parking lots and motels on the other. Wednesday evenings in summer bring the free fireworks show over the water, which draws crowds to the entire length of the boulevard. The sand sculpture competition runs through the summer and lines the boardwalk with elaborate works built by professional sculptors. The whole scene has a retro quality — there is nothing boutique or artisanal about Hampton Beach — and that is more or less the point.